Overview and Origins
Founded in 2021 by Dariya Khojasteh and Brandon Kumar, Layer3 aims to bridge the gap between users and Web3 projects by providing interactive, incentive-based engagement tools. The platform’s primary goal is to make decentralized ecosystems accessible while driving user participation. Layer3 operates with an emphasis on community involvement, offering governance and staking mechanisms that empower users to shape the protocol.
Protocols and Multichain Ecosystem
Layer3 supports over 30 blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, Polygon, and zkSync, ensuring interoperability and multichain scalability. Central to the platform are two core protocols:
- CUBEs (Credentials to Unify Blockchain Events): These ERC-721 tokens aggregate a user’s activities across different blockchains, creating unified identities that streamline interactions across DeFi and other applications.
- Token Distribution Protocol: This infrastructure enables omnichain token distribution, providing users with seamless reward accrual across multiple networks.
The platform’s commitment to decentralization is reflected in its fully audited, open-source contracts, with reviews conducted by Sherlock and ThreeSigma.
Governance and L3 Token
Governance within Layer3 is structured through Layer3 Improvement Proposals (LIPs), which allow the community to vote on key protocol changes, operational strategies, and tokenomics. The native token, L3, is central to the platform’s operations, serving as both a governance tool and a reward currency. Users can earn L3 through staking and participation in quests, while governance proposals require significant community input to pass, ensuring decentralized decision-making.
Staking and Incentives
Layer3 employs a layered staking model to align user incentives with platform engagement. This system offers three tiers of benefits:
- Layer 1: Passive staking rewards and governance rights.
- Layer 2: Access to exclusive quests, early project launches, and tailored pre-airdrop campaigns.
- Layer 3: Multiplied rewards for activity-based engagement, with more active users earning higher multipliers on their L3 rewards.
Staking L3 tokens allows participants to unlock enhanced benefits and directly influence governance decisions. Additionally, staked tokens provide access to premium incentives and launchpad initiatives, encouraging long-term ecosystem involvement.
Key Use Cases and Partnerships
Layer3 has been instrumental in driving growth for ecosystems such as Solana and Arbitrum by engaging users through gamified quests and interactive campaigns. For example, the platform facilitated major token distributions like the Genesis airdrop, rewarding early adopters with L3 tokens and boosting project visibility. Its quests serve both as educational tools and engagement drivers, helping users navigate the complexities of blockchain technology while earning tokens, XP, and NFTs.
An Analogy for Better Understanding
To visualize Layer3’s functionality, imagine it as a blend of a loyalty program and an adventure game. Similar to earning points and leveling up in a game, users complete blockchain-related quests to earn tokens and other rewards. Their progress builds over time, accumulating into a digital profile that represents their achievements and expertise. This gamified system not only makes blockchain participation rewarding but also provides tangible benefits, such as governance rights and early access to new projects.
Security and Audits
Layer3 places significant emphasis on security, with its protocols audited in multiple phases to ensure reliability. The audits are publicly accessible, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to transparency and trust.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
With over 120 million transactions facilitated across 500+ ecosystems, Layer3 is rapidly becoming a critical infrastructure for blockchain engagement. As the platform continues to expand, it plans to integrate Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology for enhanced privacy and interoperability. Additionally, the introduction of the L3 token and future governance improvements position Layer3 for long-term sustainability, fostering both ecosystem growth and decentralized control.
